Some examples are glaringly obvious–the pharmaceutical company gouging its customers, the CEO taking home hundreds of millions while his or her employees see their benefits rapidly speeding toward zero. Others, not so much. We don’t consider the impossibility of the dollar hamburger in the context of what it takes to get that fast food sandwich into our car window, for example, we just eat it.

Today I received an envelope from Thailand. That little parcel traveled almost 8,000 miles for one dollar. A buck! I don’t know if anybody got screwed in that particular deal, but come on–that’s amazing!

Anyway, songs about paying the price:

“The Price,” Solomon Burke.

“Price I Pay,” Jane’s Addiction.

“The Price of Love,” Roger Daltrey.

“Find the Cost of Freedom,” Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

“What’s a Telephone Bill?” Bootsy Collins.

“Paying the Price of Love,” Bee Gees.

“Skills To Pay the Bills,” Beastie Boys.

“Pay the Bills,” The O’Jays.

There you have it: Eight songs for paying the price, and what did you pay for them? Nada. Looks like I got suckered again. So what tracks did I miss? I’m listening.